The history of extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) reflects a true medical success story that has been the result of tremendous dedication, perseverance, teamwork, and yearsaif not decadesaof hard work by countless providers, students, and advocates. This book, the final in a series of three on ECMO, traces the history of extra-corporeal support from the early years when therapy was offered as a last attempt at salvaging those patients who had lost almost all hope of survival, to the modern era and the role of ECMO in the contemporary management of critically ill patients, especially...

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an innovative therapy that is used to support the physiologic needs of a patient during illnesses associated with acute severe respiratory and/or cardiac failure. ECMO is used in those life-threatening situations in which the oxygenation, ventilation, and circulatory support needs of the patient cannot be adequately maintained with a maximal conventional ventilator or pharmaceutical support. Essentially, ECMO is a simple pump circuit that can be used to support the role of failing lungs or hearts while therapies are aimed at organ recovery. While...

As demonstrated in the first book, the management of patients with profound respiratory failure or cardiogenic shock has evolved significantly over the years with advances in diagnostic and therapeutic options. While the mortality for these often-overlapping problems remains high, progress in the multi-disciplinary approach to these complex clinical problems has improved survival substantially. The focus of this second book is to explore some of the advanced topics and current literature regarding the management of patients requiring extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). As illustrated...